The Commander’s Doubt and the Sudden Advance
“What will you do, Commander.”
“……”
The commander, Leorn Valtroon, had just received the messenger’s report from the 2nd Defense Line. Velkain Caeron could do nothing but sink into deep contemplation.
He had spoken grandly of the plan.
Ultimately…
He intended to observe the fierce clash between the troops of the 4th Defense Line and those of the Kar tribe at Elbarphiel Lake, did he not?
And depending on the outcome of that battle… if the Kar tribe won, they would annihilate those who would emerge later.
Having heard the report, Velkain knew everything.
He knew who the commander of the Kar tribe confronting the 4th Defense Line was.
The commander, Ulgraak, was a four-star warrior who could wield aura.
Four feather tattoos were an uncommon sight even among the Kar tribe.
That was why Velkain had dispatched reinforcements from the 2nd Defense Line to bolster their strength.
Yet here they were, forced by unforeseen terrain to sit and watch the battle.
“Commander.”
“What is the current situation at the 4th Defense Line?”
“Two days ago, through magic communication, we received word that both sides have formed a line of battle on the central hill of their main forces.”
A small-scale battle had erupted, but both sides were suffering comparable damage.
“……In the end, the victor will be decided by the outcome of the battle on that hill.”
Even in such a minor skirmish, the enemy would have a catastrophic advantage over our troops.
Ultimately, there had to be a strong warrior present, but at the 4th Defense Line…
Except for Seran…
At that moment, an unfamiliar face flashed across his mind.
Arteon.
The man possessed an ability that far exceeded any ordinary soldier.
Yet even so, he could not defeat Ulgraak, who wielded aura.
To contend with aura’s absolute power, the only counter was to wield aura oneself.
If there were any possible method at all, it would be to strike an unexpected ambush before the opponent could activate their aura…
That was impossible, of course.
Deep wrinkles formed on Velkain’s forehead.
At length, Velkain made a decision and looked at the man before him.
“Claw.”
“Sergeant Major Claw.”
At Velkain’s prompt reply, he quickly began to draft the letter.
Handing the finished missive to Claw, Velkain said,
“Deliver this to the dispatch rider. He must transmit the contents via mana communication from the nearest city.”
“Understood.”
Claw took the letter and hurried out of the command tent.
Alone in the tent, Velkain let out a long sigh heavy with worry.
* * *
KRRRRRRRRRRRR!
“……!”
“W-what is happening?!”
Accompanying the rumbling vibration that shook the ground, a deafening boom echoed from the front.
Leorn, standing with the main force, could not hide his panic.
“C-commander!”
Despite Sharokl’s shout, Leorn’s gaze remained fixed on the hill ahead.
Though hidden by fog, it was impossible to see clearly.
“……What kind of battle is this, exactly?”
If the tremors were enough to shake the very earth, the power behind them could not be ordinary.
Could the Kar tribe have mages?
……No, that cannot be.
If they had possessed mages, they would have deployed them by now.
Then who among them possessed destructive power on par with that?
“Aura…?”
Leorn bit his lip tightly.
From his knowledge, none of his own troops wielded aura.
Therefore, some Kar warrior must be using it.
“……Sharokl.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Immediately dispatch a letter to Leven outside the perimeter. Have him hurry the main force to the 4th Defense Line.”
“……Yes? You sent a cooperation letter ordering Leven to strike the Kar tribe’s rear. They are already en route.”
“Precisely! I want you to revoke that order and join us here!”
Leorn’s roar made Sharokl flinch.
It was the first time he had ever seen his commander in such desperate agitation.
This felt like…
Leorn was certain he would lose the battle.
If the main force suffered defeat in the front battle, it would mean an incomparable loss of strength.
If the Kar tribe had sustained no major damage and pushed forward in their current state…
“A-alright!”
The 4th Defense Line that had held for decades… would fall.
As Sharokl rushed off with the letter, Leorn unconsciously gnawed at his own thumbnail.
“B-bloody hell… I should never have listened to Hadel.”
In exchange for his own participation in the front battle, Hadel had demanded two conditions.
First, Seran’s deployment.
Second, for the 2nd Defense Line troops stationed on the outskirts to strike the Kar tribe’s rear.
It had been a highly effective strategy—under the assumption that we would win the hill battle.
But…
If we lost the hill battle, it would be a fatal miscalculation.
Seran’s death and the 2nd Defense Line’s forced movement.
Leorn could not hide his unease.
Where had things gone wrong?
“……Damn it.”
He simply vented his frustration at the current situation, trying to steady his racing heart.
* * *
KRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Amidst the thunderous explosion, a section of the hill collapsed.
Dirt and rubble cascaded down the slope like a landslide, battering anyone nearby.
Yet…
PUUUUUUUUUU!
The blast of the Kar tribe’s retreat horn caused deep creases to form on Arteon’s brow.
It was the signal for the Kar tribe to withdraw.
“……You.”
“The outcome will be decided later.”
Looking at the fierce glare Arteon leveled at him, Makcrowdon spoke.
The situation was absurd, but with his current strength he could never defeat Arteon.
Makcrowdon glanced at the crumbling hill beside him.
He had forced every last drop of strength from his exhausted body to strike down the slope.
And…
KRRRRRRRRRRRR!
With the weakened ground, something began to tumble down from above.
Makcrowdon said,
“Our warriors can escape such a landslide… but what about you, the weaklings of the Empire?”
“You bastard!”
“You’d better hurry. I’d hate to have my subordinates buried alive.”
With those words, Makcrowdon quickly followed the retreating Kar warriors.
Arteon wanted to chase the man down and finish him at once, but
“……Grein! Move the platoon to the opposite direction! Quickly!”
The priority was to escape the collapsing landslide.
If they were too late, Arteon’s subordinates would be buried alive, just as he had warned.
The other side…
At least the battle raging there seemed unaffected by the landslide.
But…
No news… that is suspicious.
Enough time had passed for the balance to have shifted on both sides.
The fact that no signal had come at all suggested they had no time to even send one.
“Grein, after you and the platoon move, join the battle site. Even if the path is narrow, we must converge now.”
“Will you not come with us, Captain?”
“I’ll take the shortcut.”
“……Yes?”
Grein’s eyes widened.
The narrow path led straight into the landslide zone.
Grein shouted,
“It’s dangerous! We should head to the opposite direction at once…! Captain!”
But then, seeing Arteon sprinting toward the clear path, Grein cried out,
“Damn it…! We’re moving too! Hurry!”
“Yes!”
In the end, Grein and the platoon began to run in the direction Arteon had indicated.
The cascading dirt was already near at hand.
“Run! Run!”
“UAAAAAAAH!”
KRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Even with aura, a landslide of this scale?
Just how strong could human power become?
Arteon… I never imagined he would be that powerful.
Grein, and all the platoon members, had witnessed it themselves.
The monster-like Kar commander had been utterly dominated without a single loss.
Perhaps… truly…
Maybe this battle would end the war that had dragged on for their victory.
Wishing for victory was one thing, but believing in it was entirely different.
Grein and the platoon members, fleeing the landslide toward the opposite route, shared that same conviction.
And at the same moment.
PAR!
Arteon pushed off the ground with immense force and sprinted forward like an arrow.
BOOM!
Avoiding the collapsing dirt by mere inches, Arteon hurled himself into the thicket.
If he moved this way…
“Found them.”
Soon Arteon’s eyes locked onto the Kar warriors and Imperial soldiers.
But…
“……?”
Contrary to his fears, both sides appeared to have suffered little damage.
Moreover, thanks to the trumpet that had sounded moments ago, the Kar warriors were already in full retreat.
What is going on?
Enough time had passed for both sides to be heavily injured, yet…
Immediately, Arteon spotted someone bleeding in his field of vision.
“Commander Seran!”
“……?”
As Arteon shouted, Ulgraak, who had been withdrawing, turned his head and met his gaze.
Instantly, a bone-chilling chill settled over him, thick killing intent seeping into his eyes.
He wanted to ignore the withdrawal signal and charge the man, but
“Taman.”
One of Ulgraak’s subordinates, standing rigidly in place, urgently called out.
Ulgraak could not hide his disappointment as he turned.
“……I understand. We will move to the rendezvous point at once.”
“Understood.”
Soon Ulgraak began to retreat at full speed with his warriors.
Watching the fading figure of Ulgraak, Arteon turned to Seran.
“Commander Seran!”
He had sustained quite deep wounds on his left arm, blood flowing freely.
Once the Kar warriors withdrew, soldiers rushed over to check his injuries.
“First aid has been administered, but… the wounds are far deeper than expected.”
“……Damn it.”
Seran bit his lip tightly, his face twisted in pain.
Sweat beaded on his forehead and dripped down to the ground.
Looking at Seran with pity, Hadel soon turned his gaze to Arteon.
“What of your situation? Did the enemy’s withdrawal have something to do with you?”
“Yes. We clashed with one of their other high-ranking commanders. Fortunately, none of our troops suffered major injuries, but… the opposing side also did not take heavy losses.”
“Preserving our strength for now is enough. However…”
Seran’s ability to wield aura was astonishing.
I never expected to be injured here.
Looking at the severity of the wounds, using his left arm in future battles would be difficult.
Naturally, their overall strength would drop sharply.
But at that moment.
“Do not worry, Captain. Captain Arteon can wield even stronger aura than I can.”
“……!”
Hadel’s eyes widened at those words.
What did he mean?
Hadel, completely taken aback by Seran’s unexpected statement, looked at Arteon and asked,
“Is that truly the case…?”
“……Yes. I was able to reach the aura realm not long ago.”
“Wha—?!”
This was exactly the kind of reaction one would expect when surprise rendered speech impossible.
In the Empire’s history, had any young boy ever wielded aura?
…The greatest genius in history.
Throwing such a talent into this dangerous place.
Hadel berated himself, yet hope for victory bloomed within him.
And…
If Arteon truly had forced the Kar tribe to withdraw…
“We should form our lines and slowly push them back. They have no retreat left.”
“What do you mean, no retreat?”
“By now, the reinforcements stationed on the outskirts should be striking the Kar tribe’s rear, where their wounded are located.”
Hadel revealed the details of the operation he had traded with Leorn to Arteon.
“According to the plan, they should have already begun the attack. If we hold their advance here and endure…”
The Kar tribe would have no move left.
With that, Seran nodded.
But at that moment…
“Lieutenant Hadel!”
A soldier came sprinting up the hill from behind in panic.
As all eyes turned toward him,
“The main force… the main force…!”
His words left everyone frozen in place.